Mrs Gray added that the PSNI's presence at the events might encourage victims of hate crime to come forward and report them.

Up to 8,000 people are due to parade through Belfast city centre later.

Same-sex marriage has been one of the sticking points preventing the return of a devolved powersharing administration at Stormont, with Sinn Fein demanding the Democratic Unionists (DUP) stop blocking changes to the law.

The DUP , Prime Minister Theresa May's partner in government, has used a controversial Stormont voting mechanism to prevent the legalisation of same-sex marriage, despite most Assembly members supporting the move at the last vote.

The DUP rejects any suggestion it is homophobic, insisting it is protecting the "traditional" definition of marriage, and has called for tolerance of what are increasingly minority views.

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It does not have enough members in the new Assembly to veto an equal marriage vote on its own, but there is no immediate prospect of the deeply divided administration being restored.

Mr Varadkar is not staying for the Pride parade because of other commitments.

A total of 8,000 people are expected to march from Custom House Square in the city centre and about 15,000 additional supporters are anticipated, said the Parades Commission, which rules on marches. Sixty bands are due to take part.